Nonprofit founder plans run for Minnesota governor as DFLer

[Freddie Stubbs]

OUTSIDER DEMOCRAT: Burnham "Bud" Philbrook says his international experience and outsider status lift him above other likely contenders.

BY BRIAN BAKST

ASSOCIATED PRESS


ST. PAUL - Bud Philbrook figures he spends a quarter of his time abroad, jetting to places like China, Ghana and India as head of a nonprofit that coordinates community development projects in all corners of the world.

In the next two years, though, he'll skip the exotic destinations to visit places like Chaska, Grygla and Isanti. Philbrook, a former state legislator, is embarking on a run for governor, an early DFL entrant in the party's 2006 battle to unseat Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

But in DFL circles, people are asking, "Bud who?"

"Never heard of him," said party chairman Mike Erlandson.

more: http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/local/10293716.htm

[trotsky]

1. If the Independence Party can nominate a conservative this time...

the DFL could nominate a ham sandwich and still win.

Pukelenty won his election because the Democratic vote was split between two DFLers.

[Wickerman]

2. Atta-boy Mike

"Never heard of him," said party chairman Mike Erlandson.

Ya gave us Roger Moe last time, maybe it would be good to check into this Bud guy and not discount him off the bat. :think:

[Dhalgren]

3. It's still early for me - what is "DFL"?

[wheresthemind]

4. not from MN?

Its our local Democratic party...

Democratic Farmer Labor Party.

Way back when the state democratic party merged with some others... maybe someone older can give you a more complete history?

[no name no slogan]

7. Democrats merged with the Farmer-Labor Party in the 30s

If not for the merger, the MN Democratic Party would either not exist, or be a third party today.

The Farmer-Labor party was a leftist/grassroots party that supported most of the "New Deal" agenda during the 1910's and 1920's, before it was discovered by the Democrats. The Farmer-Laborites included 'normal' left-leaning liberal-types and progressives as well as a sizable contingent of socialists, communists and other 'radicals'. However, this element was largely purged from the DFL in the 40s due to the efforts of Hubert Humphrey and the Democrats.

A good place to go for DFL history is at www.dfl.org. Also check out wikipedia, too.

[dflprincess]

8. Actually they merged in 1944

I remember the date because I have a coffee mug commemorating the 50th anniversary of the event.

[no name no slogan]

11. You are correct

I must be getting old or somethin.... :dunce:

[qb]

5. I hope he gets Jesse Ventura's ad man. Those ads were great.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Mike Hatch is my first choice right now, but

Bud Philbrook sounds alright in that article.

[cynthia]

14. agreed

I would like to hear more about this guy, hear him speak, hear his views on some local government issues. I agree with his view that we haven't done too well with "insider" candidates (from inside the legislature).

[scarletwoman]

9. I'd definitely like to check him out, sounds like an interesting guy.

I do NOT want either Mike Hatch or Judy Dutcher as our candidate.

Thanks for catching this article and posting it!

sw

[Demrock6]

10. I think the biggest part Norm and Tim got into office is...

Because Dems did not get out the vote so much that year. Tim said "at least we were a distraction to them" after Bush won re-election. Do they realize the thin ice they tread? MN is a dem state, Tim and Norm won by luck. I am planning on being involved in dem gotv activities in 2006. MN is still a dem state, if we can get the turn out we got for Kerry we wont have to put up with them republican mouth pieces.

[no name no slogan]

12. Tim's in deep doo-doo right now...

He's desperate for $$ to balance the budget-- he's tapped everything, his ridiculous "Drive To Excellence" hasn't found any fat to trim, and the tribal casinos all told him to take a hike on revenue-sharing.

He'll have to raise taxes this biennium-- he has no reserves, no surplus, and noplace to make cuts.

Stick a fork in Tim-- he's done.

[Eric J in MN]

13. Why not Mike Hatch? NT

NT

[scarletwoman]

15. A combination of things...

First of all, I think he has somewhat of an abrasive personality, he's not terribly "likeable". I seriously believe that we need a candidate with obvious personal warmth and natural humor to succeed against Pawlenty. Hatch lacks these qualities -- at least by my observation.

Second, I don't see him as a progressive -- I'd rather hold out and see what other candidates come forward before feeling forced to settle for less.

Third, there are times that I suspect that Mike Hatch is at least as much into making a name for himself as he is for carrying out justice. However, since I am no doubt inordinately cynical, I will readily admit that I view him through a jaundiced eye. I don't entirely trust him.

Fourth, just as on a national level there is an "inside the beltway" taint on many political figures, in Minnesota it's "The Cities". Mike is an "insider", there's no way around it.

I'd like to see a candidate that gives outstate Minnesota some compelling reasons to vote for her or him. The Cities alone can't carry elections for the DFL, not with all the Republican suburbs. SOMEONE is going to have to strongly level with the folks in the red rural districts about how the MN GOP is screwing with them. An urban elitist isn't going to get through to them.

I want to aim alot higher, I KNOW there has to a better candidate than Mike Hatch!

sw

[no name no slogan]

16. Yeah, Hatch is a non-issue to many DFLers

...mainly because he chose to run against Perpich in the 1990 primary, when Perpich was the incumbent governor.

I knew a lot of early Hatch supporters who immediately supported Perpich after Rudy decided to run again. Many of those are folks up in the 8th, on the range, where the politics runs progressive, and their memories are long. Hatch broke a cardinal rule of politics when he ran against Perpich, and it's doubtful he'll live long enough to recover from his error.

I basically think Hatch has done a good job as Atty General and Commerce Commish, but he is rather abrasive, personally, and does tend to blow his own horn a little too much. Plus his agonizingly boring speech at the state convention in May did NOT win him any fans among newcomers.

Hatch is a good candidate, but not a great candidate, IMHO.

[scarletwoman]

17. Interesting... I was living in Alaska back then,

so I didn't know about any of that when it was happening -- although your post reminds me that I probably have seen/heard about that bit of history at least once since I've gotten involved in the DFL.

It hadn't stuck in my mind, however, so I have to admit that my lack of enthusiasm for him as a candidate is as much gut-based as anything else -- that, and his totally forgettable speech at the state convention. :P

sw

[no name no slogan]

18. Yeah, that was a very messy gov's battle that year

I wasn't exactly enthusiastic about Rudy seeking a 3rd consecutive term. In fact, most expected he wouldn't, and the candidate field was somewhat crowded for the endorsement. But once Perpich tossed his hat in, everybody (except for Hatch) bowed out.

I was living in St. Peter then, and one of the local Jackson '88 organizers was organizing for Hatch that year-- until Rudy decided to run. Then he got behind the governor 100%, as did most other folks.
In fact, I ended up at the state convention as a Perpich/Wellstone delegate that year, interestingly enough.

Hatch lost a lot of goodwill after he decided to stay in. It made the 1990 convention unnecessarily messy, considering we also had the US Senate endorsement to deal with too. We had an opportunity to win the gov's race in 1990, too, because of the Jon Grunseth affair, and Arne Carlson running as an independent.

I never thought I'd say that I missed Rudy Perpich, but I do. It's hard to believe that he was our last DFL governor-- considering that was fourteen years ago.